KEY POINTS:
Solicitor-General David Collins, QC, has been cleared of an allegation of perjury after a police investigation.
The allegation by author Anne Hunt related to sections of an affidavit sworn by Dr Collins for Court of Appeal proceedings two years ago.
The court went on to clear Mrs Hunt of contempt of court and breach of confidentiality over her book Broken Silence.
The book, published in 2003, concerned claims by a woman, identified as W, that she had been sexually abused by her therapist.
Dr Collins, while a barrister in Wellington, had acted for W. He had also given Mrs Hunt legal advice over two of her earlier books.
Detective Superintendent Rod Drew said the police investigation had reviewed hundreds of documents to determine Mrs Hunt's six specific grounds of complaint.
It concluded that Mrs Hunt was mistaken in her belief on three of the grounds and that there was no evidence of wrongdoing in regard to the others.
Mr Drew said the investigation had been independently reviewed by Philip Morgan, QC, who said there was no evidence of perjury or any obstruction of the course of justice.
Mr Drew said the inquiry was now complete and the file closed.
Mrs Hunt, a Horowhenua District councillor, strongly disagreed with the police findings, but she said she would not take the matter further.
The police investigation arose from a legal dispute between Mrs Hunt and Dr Collins over whether he vetted parts of the book's manuscript to avoid breaching court orders and confidentiality.
After Broken Silence was published, the therapist - who had been found not guilty of sexual abuse at a criminal trial - sued Mrs Hunt. In 2006, the High Court found her to be in contempt of court and in breach of confidence for publishing the book, and ordered the seizure and destruction of all unsold copies.
But the Court of Appeal overturned those verdicts and set aside the orders.
- NZPA
